Illuminated combined optical mirror signal device for vehicles and the like



June 17, 1952 A. GAZDA ILLUMINATED COMBINED OPTICAL MIRROR SIGNAL DEVICEFOR VEHICLES AND THE LIKE 3 heets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 13, 1949 ATTORNEYJune 17, 1952 A. GAZDA 2,500,751

ILLUMINATED COMBINED OPTICAL MIRROR SIGNAL DEVICE F OR VEHICLES AND THELIKE Filed Sept. 13, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 2ll[IIIIIiifllfliml-lliiiiiiiimnIP ATTORNEY June 17, 1952 2,600,751

DEVICE FOR VEHICL LI E A- GAZDA ILLUMINATED COMBINED OPTICAL MIRROR GNALES AND THE 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Sept. 13, 1949 INVENTOR fi azda MJATTORNEY PatentedJune 17, 1952 zmznmummoomnmn nrzmcanmaeoc:TSIGNALfiiEVICE Fomvnmoms nun smc i LIKE Antriineafia'zda;Brovidencmilt. .I.

mppueatmii semenib113,19ra'serial film-1151533 i-This tinventionarelate's 170 can ill'um'inated iconibined mirror and signaldevicfforfautomottve *vehi'cles and the like.

' In'fdevices at pr'esentinuse-directionindicators aremsually: locatedat the might and the lft at of indicating devices-to -twog and evento asingle device.

:A' further -'Obj 80b 6f 3 the invention-is i70 combine a rear view:mirror with an illumin'ated direction indicator :'which isintermittently operated.

.A still further 'object of the invention is to the leads forilluminating the direction device .zare led through the bracket itselfand the universal mountingfor the-mirror.

" With the above and other objects in view which will" become' apparentliromthe detailed 'desorip ='=tion below, -the -inve'ntion' is shown inthe drawings, in which 'Figure 1 is a front 'viewova-combined mirrorandrdirection" 'de'vi'ce as ts'een from the "clfront of a-"vehi'cle;

' Figure Z isa side view of the divice' shown in 1 Figure :1

Eigure 3-is 'a'- rear-*view' or: the device shown in Figure lwith therear-view mirror as se'en"from "the rear of th'e ivehicle;

Figure; ism-modifiedconstruction; 'TFigure 5 "is'-a--side Viewdf'--such-'-modified con- "struction;

"Figur'e '6 is arear "-view of "the "construction shown in T-igure 4;

"Figure"? is 'a side viewof the combined-mirror and 'direction"indicator 1 showingpartic iilarly" the "bracket 'therefor partly "incross "section and elevation;

Figure "8c is *an levational '-view -'ill'ustrating the bracketconnection;

' Figure '9 is a plan view or "the GOl'lStI'uOtlOl'l *Figure "10-'a*front" view'ffrom the front 'offthe vehicle showing a modifiedconstruction;

'Figure 11' is a 1 side view df the *coristrution -'shown" in Figure 10;

*Figure 12 is a "rear view or the construction shown in Figure 10illustrating "the *rear view transparent mirror with the indicating'in'dicia "shown in dotted lines thereon;

Figure 213 is *a front view' of 'anothermodffied "construction;

"" provide an improved bracketoonnection for a icombined 'mir'ror anddirection "device wherein Figure l' i is a +side"view of theconstruction showninFigure Figu-releis-a rear view of theconstruction*Shown in Figure" 13;

Figure 16 is-a front view of a modification;

Figure 17 is *a side'view of the shown -in" Figure 16;

Fi'gure'18 is a rear view of the construction '--shown in' Figure 16;and

Figure 19 an exploded view illustrating the manner oft-assembling theconstructionas' shown particularly-in Figures 13, Hand 15.

Figure 20 is 'a cross 'sectional "view showing the assembledstructure'ofFigure 19.

'In the various figures -similar reference characters" are used toindicate like parts.

Referrin'gto Figures 1, 2and 3, a "casingS is provided "of theconfigurationshown, tothefront of which is connected a'mounting'brackettby 'fa universal joint. I. 'In the front'face 8"as seenfrom the front of the vehicle, an arrow configuration 9 is cutout at theposition indic- 'ate'd andat theinterior of thefaceB such'arrow iscovered by a translucent member [0. The member Ill-may be madepreferably of a plastic translucent material of red color. The rear ofthe casing 5 has a face H in which is mounted *an'ordin'a'ry rear viewmirror l2. 'The mirror llmay be securedto' the casing 5 inany suitable"manner. At the side "therof the face H'has cut out therein an arrowconfiguration -ill "and at the interior of the face I I'thearrowconfiguration I3 is also covered by a translucent material l4 preferablyfialastic and preferably of "red "color.

Loc'ated'within the "casing 5 is "a light "(5 connected totheleads 16which extend'through the center "of the universal joint I and through"thecenter of the bracket member 6. The bracket members may have at' theend, not shown, any "means 'whatsoever for mounting the same upon *thevehicle body'and the leads 1'6 extendtherethroughtothe electric "supply,such as a battery "provided upon "the "vehicle.

The leads'lsalso "have preferablyas'sociated therewith a "blinkerdeviceI! 'so that when the "indicatingdevice is "on such device is intermit-"tently operated.

The device shown "operates as follows. "When the "driver "of the vehicle"throws a switch to "indicate a 'turn in '"one direction orthe other,the light .15 is illuminated and will appearvi'sible bothatthe frontandatthe rear of thevhicle. The *blinker I! will 'interrnittentlybp'eratesuch light and attract attention thereto. Therefore,

still 5 further construction instead of the four indicating devicesusually employed, only two are necessary, one located on each side ofthe vehicle and rear view mirrors are also associated therewith.

The modification shown in Figures 4, 5 and 6 is similar to themodification illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3 except that the mirror i8is of rectangular configuration and the casing I9 is shaped tocorrespond therewith.

In Figures 7, 8 and 9 the improved bracket mounting for the combineddirection indicator and mirror is shown. As indicated'particularly inFigure 7, attached to the front face 20 of the casing 2| in any desiredway is a spherical member 22 having a bore 23 extending therethroughleading to the interior of the casing 2|. Mounted upon the member 22 areclamping members 24 and 25 having laterally extending apertured ears 26and 27 respectively. The apertures in the ears 2'! are threaded tocooperate with the clamping screws 28. The clamping members 24 and, 25also have forwardly extending semi-spherical extensions 29 and 30respectively which clamp frictionally the end 3| of the bracket member6. The end 3] is preferably provided with an apertured plug 32. Theconductor 33 containing the leads IS extends through the aperture of theplug 32 and also through the bore 23 to the illuminating means providedwithin the casing 2|. By screwing the clamping members 24 and 25together by means of the screws 28, any desired friction may be placedbetween the clamping members and the spherical member 22 and the end ofthe bracket member 6. In this way the combined mirror and directionindicator may be located at any desired position and at the same timethe conducting means for the leads l6 are entirely encased and protectedfrom weather conditions.

In Figures 10, 11 and 12 a further modification is shown wherein thedirection indicator is combined with a transparent mirror which servesas the rear view mirror upon a vehicle. In this construction thedirection indicator appears when illuminated upon the transparent mirroritself and is visible from the rear.

In this construction the bracket member 3 is similar to that previouslydescribed with the universal joint 1, and the spherical member issecured to a cylindrical casing element. Rotatively mounted'upon theelement 34 and frictionally secured thereto is the cooperating casingelement 35. The element 35 is provided with enlarged slots 36 connectedby webs 31 so I that when the element 35 is rotated manually withrespect to the cylindrical portion 34, the universal joint I andcooperating elements will not obstruct such rotation. Upon the casingelement 35 at the front face 38 thereof is cut out the directionindicator v39 which in the same manner as previously described with theother modifications, is covered by a translucent member 40. The rearface of the casing 35 has secured thereto in any desired way atransparent mirror 4!, and immediately in back of such transparent tothe battery of the vehicle. In this case also a blinker is associatedwith such leads so that the direction indication is intermittentlyoperated when placed in action by the driver.

In this modification ordinarly when the illuminating means '44 is not inoperation, the transparent mirror 4| serves as a rear view mirror.However, when the light 44 is lighted, then the direction indicator 39is illuminated and is visible from in front of the vehicle, whiletowards the rear of the vehicle the direction indicator 46 appears uponthe transparent mirror itself, preferably in red. This is because theillumination from the bulb passes through the translucent sheet 43 andis outlined by the stencil 42 upon the transparent mirror 4! itself.

In thi's'case also only two combined mirrors and direction indicatorsare necessary, one on each side of the vehicle.

In Figures 13, 14 and 15 a similar construction is shown except that thetransparent mirror 41 is of rectangular configuration, and in this casethe frictional rotation provided between the element 34 and the element35 of the modification shown, in Figures 10, 11 and 12 which allows thedirection indicators to be adjusted so as to extend horizontally at alltimes has been omitted.

In this construction the direction indicator 48 is cut out from thefront face 49 of the casing 5!] and is covered by a translucent material5|. The casing 50 has secured at the rear thereof the transparent mirror41 and such mirror has associated therewith elements 42 and 43 ofrectangular configuration. The operation in this case is the same asthat in the modification shown in Figures 10, 11 and 12.

In Figures 16, 17 and 18 a further modification is shown which issimilar to the modification shown in Figures 10 and 13 with theexception that a partition member 52 extends vertically through thecentral portion of the combined rear view and direction indicator.Because of the partition 52 direction indicators for both right and leftturnings may be provided in the same device. As shown in Figure 16 whichillustrates the front view of such a construction, one directionindicator 53 is out from the front face 54 of the casing 55 and at theother side of the partition 52 another direction indicator 56 is cutpointing in the opposite direction. In the transparent mirror sectiontowards the rear the stencil 42 cooperating with the transparent mirror51 is provided with a stencil cut-out 58 pointing in one direction andalso with a stencil cut-out 59 pointing in the other direction. In thisconstruction a light 60 is provided in one compartment formed by thepartition 52 and a light 6| is provided in the other compartment. Inthis case separate leads run from the lights 60 and 6| through thebracket member 6 to the power supply.

The construction shown in Figures 16, 17 and 18 permits the use of onlya single combined rear view mirror and indicating means for a vehicleinstead of the usual four now in use. Also, the direction indicators tothe rear of the vehicle are not visible at all when not in operationand, when operated, quickly attract the attention of drivers offollowing vehicles.

Figure 19 shows the general method of assembling the constructions suchas shown particularly in Figures 13 to 18 inclusive. -The casing asshown in Figure 19 may be constructed of two cooperating portions suchas 62 and 63.

The casing element 02 is provided with an inturned flange 64 while thecasing element 63 open at the front has an inturned flange 65. Thetransparent mirror 66 together with the stencil member 42 preferably ofblack paper with the indicating means cut out therein and thetranslucent member '43 are clamped between the flanges 64 and 66 whenthe device is assembled by any desired means. The illuminating means isshown at 61 and a blinking device may be associated therewith oromitted, as desired. Also, the signaling indicia may be cut from thesilvering upon a normal mirror and a translucent member such as redpaper may be secured over such cut out portion upon the silver.

In the following claims the term direction indicator means anyconfiguration such as an illuminated arrow, an illuminated frame partlyor completely surrounding the mirror or any illuminated geometricalfigure or character.

Various modifications may be made in the construction outlined above,but it is intended that all modifications are claimed as fall within thespirit of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A combined rear view mirror and signal device for motor vehicles andthe like comprising a casing, a direction indicator out from said casingat the front thereof and at the rear thereof, translucent materialcovering said cut-outs, a transparent mirror fixed to said casing at therear thereof and means for illuminating intermittenly said directionindicators so that said indicators are visible both from the front andthe rear of the vehicle.

2. A combined rear view mirror and signal device comprising a casing, apartition extending through said casing dividing the same into twocompartments, said casing having at its front a direction indicationcut-out for indicating turnings in both directions, a transparent mirrorfixed to said casing at the rear thereof, a stencil having two directionindications therein located at the rear of said mirror, a translucentmember associated with said stencil and illuminating means for eachcompartment under the control of the driver of the vehicle so that asingle direction indicator and rear view mirror will indicate directionsof turnings to both the rear and the front.

ANTOINE GAZDA.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,349,191 Duncomb Aug. 10, 19201,368,644 Mochizuki Feb. 15, 1921 1,401,988 Knapp Jan. 3, 1922 1,465,950Schiller Aug. 28, 1923 1,611,066 Preston Dec. 14,1926

